“It might be said that society speaks through the clothing it wears. Through its clothing it reveals its secret aspirations and uses it, at least in part, to build or destroy its future.” SaidUseMightSpeakSecretAspirationClothingsModesty Author:Pope Pius XII
“The most insidious of sophisms are usually repeated to justify immodesty and seem to be the same everywhere.” SeemsJustifyModestyInsidious Author:Pope Pius XII
“How many young girls there are who do not see any wrongdoing in following certain shameless styles like so many sheep. They certainly would blush if they could guess the impression they make and the feelings they evoke in those who see them. Do they not see the harm resulting from excess in certain gymnastic exercises and sports not suitable for virtuous girls? What sins are committed or provoked by conversations which are too free, by immodest shows, by dangerous reading. How lax have consciences become, how pagan morals!” IfsShowsFeelingsYoungCertainGirlReadingSportsSinMoralDangerousStyleExerciseConversationConscienceCommittedFollowingHarmImpressionExcessSheepVirtuousModestyPaganSuitableEvokeShamelessWrongdoingProvokedLax Author:Pope Pius XII
“Beyond fashion and its demands, there are higher and more pressing laws, principles superior to fashion, and unchangeable, which under no circumstances can be sacrificed to the whim of pleasure or fancy, and before which must bow the fleeting omnipotence of fashion. These principles have been proclaimed by God, by the Church, by the Saints, by reason, by Christian morality.” Has BeensReasonChristianLawChurchPleasurePrinciplesFashionHigherCircumstancesMoralityDemandSaintSuperiorsFancyBowsModestyFleetingWhimOmnipotenceUnchangeableChristian Morality Author:Pope Pius XII
“When she was thrown into the air by a savage bull in the amphitheatre at Carthage, her first thought and action when she fell to the ground was to rearrange her dress to cover her thigh, because she was more concerned for modesty than pain.” FirstsActionPainAirConcernedDressesThrownModestySavagesBullsThighsThoughts And ActionsCarthage Author:Pope Pius XII
“Mainly through sins of impurity, do the forces of darkness subjugate souls.” SoulForceSinDarknessModestyImpurity Author:Pope Pius XII
“Christian mothers, if only you knew the future of distress and peril, of shame ill-restrained, that you prepare for your sons and daughters in imprudently accustoming them to live hardly clothed and in making them lose the sense of modesty, you should be ashamed of yourselves and of the harm done the little ones whom heaven entrusted to your care, to be reared in Christian dignity and culture.” IfsShouldLittlesDoneCareChristianMotherCultureHeavenLosesSonDaughterDignityShameIllHarmAshamedModestyDistressPerilYour SonSon And DaughterIf Only You Knew Author:Pope Pius XII
“These principles have been proclaimed by God, by the Church, by the Saints, by Christian reason and morals.” Has BeensReasonChristianChurchPrinciplesMoralitySaintModestyChristian Morality Author:Pope Pius XII
“Below the knee, halfway down the arm, and two finger widths below the collarbone.” TwoArmsFingersKneesModestyHalfwayWidth Author:Pope Pius XII
“How many girls there are who do not see any wrongdoing in following certain shameless styles like so many sheep. They certainly would blush if they could guess the impression they make and the feelings they evoke in those who see them.” IfsFeelingsCertainGirlStyleFollowingImpressionSheepModestyEvokeShamelessWrongdoing Author:Pope Pius XII
“But how can you know anything of the impression made on others? Who can assure you that others do not draw therefrom incentives to evil? You do not know the depths of human frailty. . . Oh, how truly was it said that if some Christian women could only suspect the temptations and falls they cause in others with modes of dress and familiarity in behavior, which they unthinkingly consider as of no importance, they would be shocked by the responsibility which is theirs.” IfsKnowsHumansMadeSaidWould BeChristianFallEvilCausesResponsibilityBehaviorDrawsImportanceDressesDepthImpressionTemptationSuspectsModestyShockedIncentivesFamiliarityFrailtyHuman FrailtiesChristian Women Author:Pope Pius XII
“The good of our soul is more important than that of our body; and we have to prefer the spiritual welfare of our neighbor to our bodily comforts. . . If a certain kind of dress constitutes a grave and proximate occasion of sin, and endangers the salvation of your soul and others, it is your duty to give it up.” IfsGivingKindImportantSoulBodySpiritualCertainSinDutyComfortDressesSalvationNeighborGravesOccasionsYour SoulWelfareModesty Author:Pope Pius XII
